The Ranges Of Disney Princesses.  AKA, The Case For The Mezzo Princess.

The Ranges of Disney Princesses.  AKA, the case for the mezzo princess.

We all hear that the Disney princesses are all sopranos, and that this sucks.  “When will we get an alto princess?!” is a phrase I constantly hear.  Well, I wanted to set down the facts for all to see.  Let’s look at the ranges.  Note that all are based on the movie songs, not the musical versions when applicable.  Let me know if I missed something, or want me to check a song again.  I cross-checked sheet music to videos, but I could have missed something.

Snow White: D4-Bb5

Anna: Gb3-G5

Rapunzel: G3-G5

Aurora: D4-F5

Pocahontas: G#3-F5

Jasmine: C#4-E5

Elsa: F3-Eb5

Mulan: G#3-D5

Tiana: G#3-C#5

Ariel: C4-C5

Belle: G#3-B4

Cinderella: A3-Bb4

So we see some sopranos here–Snow White and her little operatic runs are, undoubtedly, soprano territory.  But from there, we pretty quickly drop off from true soprano territory and fall smack-dab in the middle of mezzo-land.  Anna and Rapunzel, sure, may be tough for some mezzos who don’t have a developed upper range.  But as you move down that list, we’re suddenly getting down to notes that I know many sopranos cannot sing.  I have lots and lots of students who cannot consistently sing a G#3, so it’s tough to argue that these ranges are unreasonably soprano-esque.  In fact, we get to Ariel who has a downright tiny range.  Crazy, right!  Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel would really be considered more of altos if we just look at their ranges!  

But many people hear these songs and immediately think, but they’re so high!  And this is where timbre comes into play.  Some of these women have very light timbres, and it makes their voices sound higher than they actually are.  It’s shocking to really take a look at how low some of these songs actually are, right?  

I actually feel like amongst all these characters, there’s a pretty great representation across many ranges and types.  We’ve got belters, legit singers, more operatic, more mixed, more pop…  Ranging all the way from an F3-Bb5 altogether!  Represent, female voices.